Gas-barrier resin composition

ABSTRACT

A resin composition includes a polymer (A) mainly containing a structural unit represented by following Formula (1):  
                 
         wherein m represents an integer of 2 to 10; X 1  and X 2  are each hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group or a functional group that can be converted into a hydroxyl group, wherein at least one of X 1  and X 2  is hydroxyl group or a functional group that can be converted into hydroxyl group; R 1 , R 2  and R 3  are each hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, a functional group that can be converted into hydroxyl group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group or a heteroaryl group, wherein the plural R 1 s may be the same as or different from each other; and a vinyl alcohol polymer (B).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to resin compositions and films and othermolded articles of the resin compositions that have excellent gasbarrier properties.

2. Description of the Related Art

Polymers having functional groups such as hydroxyl group in the moleculeshow various physical properties such as hydrophilicity or adhesivenessderived from the functional groups. Thus, they can be used as, forexample, structural components for functional packaging materials,functional molding materials, sheets, films, fibers, coating agents,functional alloys and blends. A variety of such polymers have beensynthesized. For example, PCT International Publication No. WO 99/50331discloses a polymer represented by following Formula (2):

wherein X and Y are each hydroxyl group, carboxyl group, carboxylicester group, amido group, nitrile group or carbonyl group; R is an alkylgroup having 1 to 5 carbon atoms or aforementioned X; a and b are eachan integer of 0 to 6 and the total of a and b is from 2 to 7, preparedby ring-opening metathesis polymerization of a cycloalkene compoundcontaining 7 to 12 carbon atoms and having a functional group, such as5-cyclooctene-1,2-diol; and a polymer prepared by hydrogenation of thedouble bond in the molecular chain of the polymer just mentioned above.

Such polymers can be molded by melt process and are very excellent resinmaterials that show high gas barrier properties at high humidity. Inparticular, a polymer prepared by hydrogenation of the polymer ofFormula (2) in which X and Y are hydroxyl groups is useful as aconstitutional component for packaging materials having highoxygen-barrier properties (PCT International Publication No. WO00/18579).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To develop higher gas barrier properties, a resin constituting a gasbarrier material should preferably be crystallized sufficiently.However, since the polymer represented in Formula (2) above may have arelatively low crystallization rate, it may require heat treatment for along time in molding and processing and thereby invite higher cost.Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a resincomposition that shows high gas barrier properties at high humidity andcan be molded by melt processes.

The present inventors have found that a resin composition containing aspecific polymer mentioned below and a vinyl alcohol polymer can have aremarkably increased crystallization rate and can be subjected to heattreatment in a shorter time in molding and processing withoutdeteriorating its gas barrier properties. The present invention has beenaccomplished based on these findings.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a resin compositionincluding a polymer (A) mainly containing a structural unit representedby the following Formula (1):

wherein m represents an integer of 2 to 10; X¹ and X² are each hydrogenatom, hydroxyl group or a functional group that can be converted into ahydroxyl group, wherein at least one of X¹ and X² is a hydroxyl group ora functional group that can be converted into hydroxyl group; R¹, R² andR³ are each a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a functional group thatcan be converted into hydroxyl group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, anaralkyl group or a heteroaryl group, wherein the plural R¹s may be thesame as or different from each other; and a vinyl alcohol polymer (B).The present invention further provides a molded article containing theresin composition.

The resin composition according to the present invention can be moldedby melt processes, has high gas barrier properties, especially againstoxygen gas, even at high humidity and can develop high gas barrierproperties even when it is subjected to heat treatment in a short timein molding and processing. The resin composition can yield moldedarticles having excellent gas barrier properties.

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The resin composition contains a polymer (A) comprising a structuralformula represented by following Formula (1):

wherein m represents an integer of 2 to 10; X¹ and X² are each hydrogenatom, hydroxyl group or a functional group that can be converted into ahydroxyl group, wherein at least one of X¹ and X² is hydroxyl group or afunctional group that can be converted into hydroxyl group; R¹, R² andR³ are each a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a functional group thatcan be converted into hydroxyl group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, anaralkyl group or a heteroaryl group, wherein the plural R¹s may be thesame as or different from each other.

In Formula (1), X¹ and X² are each hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group or afunctional group that can be converted into hydroxyl group, wherein atleast one of X¹ and X² is hydroxyl group or a functional group that canbe converted into hydroxyl group.

Examples of the functional group that can be converted into hydroxylgroup include epoxy group, and a hydroxyl group protected by aprotecting group. The epoxy group may be a three-membered ring formed bythe carbon atom to which X¹ is bound, the carbon atom to which X² isbound and oxygen atom.

Examples of the protecting group of hydroxyl group mentioned aboveinclude alkyl groups such as methyl group, ethyl group and t-butylgroup; alkenyl groups such as allyl group; aralkyl groups such as benzylgroup; aryl groups such as phenyl group; alkoxyalkyl groups such asmethoxymethyl group, methoxyethyl group and ethoxyethyl group; acylgroups such as acetyl group, propionyl group and benzoyl group;alkoxycarbonyl groups such as methoxycarbonyl group, ethoxycarbonylgroup, t-butoxycarbonyl group, phenyloxycarbonyl group andbenzyloxycarbonyl group; silyl groups such as trimethylsilyl group andt-butyldimethylsilyl group.

For easy protection and deprotection, preferred examples of thehydroxyl-protecting group are alkoxyalkyl groups such as methoxymethylgroup, methoxyethyl group and ethoxyethyl group; acyl groups such asacetyl group, propionyl group and benzoyl group; alkoxycarbonyl groupssuch as methoxycarbonyl group, ethoxycarbonyl group, t-butoxycarbonylgroup, phenyloxycarbonyl group and benzyloxycarbonyl group; and silylgroups such as trimethylsilyl group and t-butyldimethylsilyl group.Particularly, the hydroxyl group is preferably protected by an acylgroup such as acetyl group, propionyl group or benzoyl group, becausesuch a group can be industrially prepared at low cost.

In Formula (1), both of X¹ and X² are preferably a hydroxyl group and/ora functional group that can be converted into hydroxyl group. By usingthe polymer (A) mainly comprising the structural unit represented byFormula (1), the resin composition can have a higher gas barrierproperties.

R¹, R² and R³ in Formula (1) are each hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, afunctional group that can be converted into hydroxyl group, an alkylgroup, an aryl group, an aralkyl group or a heteroaryl group. The pluralR's may be the same as or different from each other.

Examples of the functional group that can be converted into hydroxylgroup for use as R¹, R² and R³ include those exemplified as thefunctional groups that can be converted into hydroxyl group X¹ and X².

The alkyl group is preferably an alkyl group having one to five carbonatoms. Examples of such alkyl group include aliphatic chain alkyl groupssuch as methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, isopropyl group,n-butyl group, isobutyl group and n-pentyl group; and alicyclic alkylgroups such as cyclopentyl group.

Examples of the aryl group include phenyl group, naphthyl group,biphenyl group, phenanthryl group, anthryl group, triphenylenyl groupand pyrenyl group.

Examples of the aralkyl group include benzyl group, phenethyl group,naphthylmethyl group and biphenylmethyl group.

Examples of the heteroaryl group include pyridyl group, quinolyl group,isoquinolyl group, pyrrolyl group, indolyl group, furyl group,benzofuranyl group, thienyl group and benzothiophenyl group.

The polymer (A) for use in the present invention mainly comprises thestructural unit represented by Formula (I) but may further comprise oneor more structural units other than the structural unit represented byFormula (1), within ranges not deteriorating the advantages of thepresent invention. For example the polymer (A) may contain only thestructural unit of Formula 1. The polymer may contain 50 mol % or moreof the structural unit of Formula 1, preferably 60 mol % or more, morepreferably 75 mol % or more and even more preferably 95 mol % or more,where mol % is based on the total number of moles of all structuralunits in the polymer (A), for higher gas barrier properties of the resincomposition.

Examples of such additional structural units include structural unitsderived from linear alkylene groups such as tetramethylene-1,4-diylgroup, pentamethylene-1,5-diyl group, heptamethylene-1,7-diyl group andoctamethylene-1,8-diyl group; structural units derived from branchedalkylene groups such as 2-methylpentane-1,5-diyl group and3-methylpentane-1,5-diyl group; structural units derived from alkylenegroup having a cyclic structure, such ascyclopentene-1,3-dimethylenediyl group.

The polymer (A) can have any molecular weight but preferably has anumber-average molecular weight of 1,000 to 1,000,000, more preferably1,000 to 200,000, and further preferably 1,000 to 80,000. The polymer(A) having a number-average molecular weight (Mn) within the above rangecontributes to provide a resin composition that can be satisfactorilymolded by melt process.

The polymer (A) can be prepared by any method. For example, it can beprepared by subjecting a cyclic olefin compound to ring-openingmetathesis polymerization and hydrogenating the resulting polymer.

Examples of the cyclic olefin compound include

-   3-cyclopenten-1-ol, 1-acetoxy-3-cyclopentene,-   1-t-butoxy-3-cyclopentene,-   1-methoxycarbonyloxy-3-cyclopentene,-   1-trimethylsiloxy-3-cyclopentene,-   2-cyclopenten-1-ol, 1-acetoxy-2-cyclopentene,-   1-t-butoxy-2-cyclopentene,-   1-methoxycarbonyloxy-2-cyclopentene,-   1-trimethylsiloxy-2-cyclopentene,-   3-cyclopentene-1,2-diol, 1,2-epoxy-3-cyclopentene,-   1,2-diacetoxy-3-cyclopentene,-   1,2-di-t-butoxy-3-cyclopentene,-   1,2-di(methoxycarbonyloxy)-3-cyclopentene,-   1,2-di(trimethylsiloxy)-3-cyclopentene,-   2-cyclohepten-1-ol, 1-acetoxy-2-cycloheptene,-   1-t-butoxy-2-cycloheptene,-   1-methoxycarbonyloxy-2-cycloheptene,-   1-trimethylsiloxy-2-cycloheptene,-   3-cyclohepten-1-ol, 1-acetoxy-3-cycloheptene,-   1-t-butoxy-3-cycloheptene,-   1-methoxycarbonyloxy-3-cycloheptene,-   1-trimethylsiloxy-3-cycloheptene,-   4-cyclohepten-1-ol, 1-acetoxy-4-cycloheptene,-   1-t-butoxy-4-cycloheptene,-   1-methoxycarbonyloxy-4-cycloheptene,-   1-trimethylsiloxy-4-cycloheptene,-   3-cycloheptene-1,2-diol, 1,2-epoxy-3-cycloheptene,-   1,2-diacetoxy-3-cycloheptene,-   1,2-di-t-butoxy-3-cycloheptene,-   1,2-di(trimethylsiloxy)-3-cycloheptene,-   1,2-di(methoxycarbonyloxy)-3-cycloheptene,-   4-cycloheptene-1,2-diol, 1,2-epoxy-4-cycloheptene,-   1,2-diacetoxy-4-cycloheptene,-   1,2-di-t-butoxy-4-cycloheptene,-   1,2-di(trimethylsiloxy)-4-cycloheptene,-   1,2-di(methoxycarbonyloxy)-4-cycloheptene,-   2-cycloocten-1-ol, 1-acetoxy-2-cyclooctene,-   1-t-butoxy-2-cyclooctene,-   1-methoxycarbonyloxy-2-cyclooctene,-   1-trimethylsiloxy-2-cyclooctene,-   3-cycloocten-1-ol, 1-acetoxy-3-cyclooctene,-   1-t-butoxy-3-cyclooctene,-   1-methoxycarbonyloxy-3-cyclooctene,-   1-trimethylsiloxy-3-cyclooctene,-   4-cycloocten-1-ol, 1-acetoxy-4-cyclooctene,-   1-t-butoxy-4-cyclooctene,-   1-methoxycarbonyloxy-4-cyclooctene,-   1-trimethylsiloxy-4-cyclooctene,-   3-cyclooctene-1,2-diol, 1,2-epoxy-3-cyclooctene,-   1,2-diacetoxy-3-cyclooctene, 1,2-di-t-butoxy-3-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di(trimethylsiloxy)-3-cyclooctene,    1,2-di(methoxycarbonyloxy)-3-cyclooctene,-   4-cyclooctene-1,2-diol, 1,2-epoxy-4-cyclooctene,-   1,2-diacetoxy-4-cyclooctene, 1,2-di-t-butoxy-4-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di(trimethylsiloxy)-4-cyclooctene,    1,2-di(methoxycarbonyloxy)-4-cyclooctene,-   5-cyclooctene-1,2-diol, 1,2-epoxy-5-cyclooctene,-   1,2-diacetoxy-5-cyclooctene, 1,2-di-t-butoxy-5-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di(trimethylsiloxy)-5-cyclooctene,    1,2-di(methoxycarbonyloxy)-5-cyclooctene,-   3-methyl-3-cycloocten-1-ol,-   1-acetoxy-3-methyl-3-cyclooctene,-   1-t-butoxy-3-methyl-3-cyclooctene,-   1-methoxycarbonyloxy-3-methyl-3-cyclooctene,-   1-trimethylsiloxy-3-methyl-3-cyclooctene,-   4-methyl-4-cycloocten-1-ol,-   1-acetoxy-4-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-t-butoxy-4-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-methoxycarbonyloxy-4-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-trimethylsiloxy-4-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   5-methyl-4-cycloocten-1-ol,-   1-acetoxy-5-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-t-butoxy-5-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-methoxycarbonyloxy-5-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-trimethylsiloxy-5-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   4-methyl-3-cycloocten-1-ol,-   1-acetoxy-4-methyl-3-cyclooctene,-   1-t-butoxy-4-methyl-3-cyclooctene,-   1-methoxycarbonyloxy-4-methyl-3-cyclooctene,-   1-trimethylsiloxy-4-methyl-3-cyclooctene,-   4-methyl-4-cyclooctene-1,2-diol,-   1,2-epoxy-4-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1,2-diacetoxy-4-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di-t-butoxy-4-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di(trimethylsiloxy)-4-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di(methoxycarbonyloxy)-4-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   5-methyl-4-cyclooctene-1,2-diol,-   1,2-epoxy-5-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1,2-diacetoxy-5-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di-t-butoxy-5-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di(trimethylsiloxy)-5-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di(methoxycarbonyloxy)-5-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   5-methyl-5-cyclooctene-1,2-diol,-   1,2-epoxy-5-methyl-5-cyclooctene,-   1,2-diacetoxy-5-methyl-5-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di-t-butoxy-5-methyl-5-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di(trimethylsiloxy)-5-methyl-5-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di(methoxycarbonyloxy)-5-methyl-5-cyclooctene,-   1-methyl-4-cycloocten-1-ol,-   1-acetoxy-1-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-t-butoxy-1-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-methoxycarbonyloxy-1-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-trimethylsiloxy-1-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   8-methyl-4-cycloocten-1-ol,-   1-acetoxy-8-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-t-butoxy-8-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-methoxycarbonyloxy-8-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-trimethylsiloxy-8-methyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-methyl-5-cyclooctene-1,2-diol,-   1,2-epoxy-1-methyl-5-cyclooctene,-   1,2-diacetoxy-1-methyl-5-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di-t-butoxy-1-methyl-5-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di(trimethylsiloxy)-1-methyl-5-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di(methoxycarbonyloxy)-1-methyl-5-cyclooctene,-   1,4-dimethyl-4-cycloocten-1-ol,-   1-acetoxy-1,4-dimethyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-t-butoxy-1,4-dimethyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-methoxycarbonyloxy-1,4-dimethyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-trimethylsiloxy-1,4-dimethyl-4-cyclooctene,-   5,8-dimethyl-4-cycloocten-1-ol,-   1-acetoxy-5,8-dimethyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-t-butoxy-5,8-dimethyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-methoxycarbonyloxy-5,8-dimethyl-4-cyclooctene;-   1-trimethylsiloxy-5,8-dimethyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1,6-dimethyl-5-cyclooctene-1,2-diol,-   1,2-epoxy-1,6-dimethyl-5-cyclooctene,-   1,2-diacetoxy-1,6-dimethyl-5-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di-t-butoxy-1,6-dimethyl-5-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di(trimethylsiloxy)-1,6-dimethyl-5-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di(methoxycarbonyloxy)-1,6-dimethyl-5-cyclooctene,-   1,5-dimethyl-4-cycloocten-1-ol,-   1-acetoxy-1,5-dimethyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-t-butoxy-1,5-dimethyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-methoxycarbonyloxy-1,5-dimethyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-trimethylsiloxy-1,5-dimethyl-4-cyclooctene,-   4,8-dimethyl-4-cycloocten-1-ol,-   1-acetoxy-4,8-dimethyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-t-butoxy-4,8-dimethyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-methoxycarbonyloxy-4,8-dimethyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1-trimethylsiloxy-4,8-dimethyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1,5-dimethyl-5-cyclooctene-1,2-diol,-   1,2-epoxy-1,5-dimethyl-5-cyclooctene,-   1,2-diacetoxy-1,5-dimethyl-5-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di-t-butoxy-1,5-dimethyl-5-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di(trimethylsiloxy)-1,5-dimethyl-5-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di(methoxycarbonyloxy)-1,5-dimethyl-5-cyclooctene,-   3,7-dimethyl-3-cycloocten-1-ol,-   1-acetoxy-3,7-dimethyl-3-cyclooctene,-   1-t-butoxy-3,7-dimethyl-3-cyclooctene,-   1-methoxycarbonyloxy-3,7-dimethyl-3-cyclooctene,-   1-trimethylsiloxy-3,7-dimethyl-3-cyclooctene,-   4,8-dimethyl-4-cyclooctene-1,2-diol,-   1,2-epoxy-4,8-dimethyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1,2-diacetoxy-4,8-dimethyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di-t-butoxy-4,8-dimethyl-4-cyclooctene,-   1,2-di(trimethylsiloxy)-4,8-dimethyl-4-cyclooctene and-   1,2-di(methoxycarbonyloxy)-4,8-dimethyl-4-cyclooctene.

The polymer (A) can be prepared by ring-opening metathesispolymerization according to any procedure such as using a conventionalmetathesis polymerization catalyst. Examples of the metathesispolymerization catalyst include ruthenium carbene complexes, osmiumcarbene complexes, molybdenum carbene complexes and tungsten carbenecomplexes such as represented by following Formulae 4-10.

Wherein PCy₃ represents tricyclohexylphosphine and Mes represents2,4,6-trimethylphenyl group. Among them, ruthenium carbene complexes arepreferred for their satisfactory activity and low toxicity of the metalmoiety.

The reaction can be carried out in the presence of a conventionalsolvent and/or chain transfer agent for use in ring-opening metathesispolymerization. Examples of the solvent include aromatic hydrocarbonssuch as toluene; ethers such as tetrahydrofuran; and

halogenated derivatives such as methylene chloride andmonochlorobenzene. An example of the chain transfer agent is3-cis-hexen-1-ol.

The polymer (A) used in the present invention can be prepared byhydrogenating the polymer formed by ring-opening metathesispolymerization. The polymer can be hydrogenated according to aconventional hydrogenation procedure for unsaturated polymers. Forexample, it can be hydrogenated by introducing hydrogen in the presenceof a hydrogenation catalyst such as nickel type catalyst such as Raneynickel, cobalt type catalyst such as Raney cobalt, ruthenium typecatalyst such as ruthenuim on carbon, rhodium type catalyst, palladiumtype catalyst, platinum type catalyst, composition thereof or alloythereof.

For preventing the undesired reactions with functional groups on theunsaturated polymers and showing higher hydrogenation catalyticactivity, preferred examples of a hydrogenation catalyst are rhodiumtype catalyst, palladium type catalyst, platinum type catalyst,composition thereof and alloy thereof. Examples of rhodium type catalystare tris(triphenylphosphine)rhodium chloride, andbis(1,5-cyclooctadiene)rhodium trifluoromethanesulfonate. Examples ofpalladium type catalyst or platinum type catalyst are palladium oncarbon and platinum on carbon. Particularly, it is preferred to use thepalladium on the basic carbon or the platinum on the basic carbondescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,559,241 (incorporated herein by referencein its entirety).

The vinyl alcohol polymer (B) for use in the present invention can beprepared by subjecting a vinyl ester monomer to radical polymerization,and saponifying the resulting vinyl ester polymer to thereby convert thevinyl ester unit to vinyl alcohol unit. Examples of the vinyl estermonomer include vinyl formate, vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyllaurate, vinyl stearate, vinyl benzoate, vinyl pivalate and vinylversatate. Among them, vinyl acetate is preferred for its low cost andhigh availability.

Where necessary, the vinyl ester monomer can be subjected to radicalpolymerization in the coexistence of one or more copolymerizablemonomers that can undergo copolymerization with the vinyl ester monomerwithin ranges not adversely affecting the advantages of the presentinvention. Examples of the copolymerizable monomers include olefins suchas ethylene, propylene, 1-butene and iso-butene; unsaturated carboxylicacids such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid, phthalicacid, maleic acid and itaconic acid, salts thereof or mono- or di-C₁-C₁₈alkyl esters thereof; (meth) acrylamides, such as (meth)acrylamide,N—(C₁-C₁₈ alkyl)(meth)acrylamide,N,N-dimethyl(meth)acylamidopropyldimethylamine or acid salts thereof;N-vinylamides such as N-vinylpyrrolidone, N-vinylformamide andN-vinylacetoamide; vinyl cyanides such as acrylonitrile and(meth)acrylonitrile; vinyl ethers such as alkyl vinyl ethers,hydroxyalkyl vinyl ethers and alkoxyalkyl vinyl ethers each having analkyl chain containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms; vinyl halides such as vinylchloride, vinylidene chloride, vinyl fluoride, vinylidene fluoride andvinyl bromide; vinylsilanes such as trimethoxyviniylsilane; and allylcompounds such as allyl acetate, allyl chloride, allyl alcohol anddimethylallyl alcohol.

Each of these copolymerizable monomers can be used alone or incombination. The amount of the copolymerizable monomers is preferably0.001 to 80 percent by mole based on the total monomers constituting thevinyl alcohol polymer (B), preferably 0.1 to 50 percent by mol %.

The viscosity-average polymerization degree of the vinyl alcohol polymer(B) can be suitably selected according to the use but is preferably 200to 2,000, and more preferably 250 to 1,500, even more preferably from750 to 1,200. A vinyl alcohol polymer (B) having a viscosity-averagepolymerization degree less than 200 may invite insufficient strength, inparticular remarkably low impact strength at low temperatures of themolded article. In contrast, a vinyl alcohol polymer (B) having aviscosity-average polymerization degree exceeding 2,000 may inviteunderfill and unsatisfactory molding due to a high melt viscosity andlow flowability of the resin. The viscosity-average polymerizationdegree is determined by measuring the limiting viscosity [η] (dl/g) ofthe completely-saponified vinyl alcohol polymer (B) in water at 30° C.and calculating according to the equation represented by followingFormula (3):

Viscosity-Average Polymerization Degree $\begin{matrix}{{{Visocity}\text{-}{average}\quad{polymerization}\quad{degree}} = \left( {\lbrack\eta\rbrack \times {10^{3}/8.29}} \right)^{({1/0.62})}} & (3)\end{matrix}$

The saponification degree of the vinyl alcohol polymer (B) can besuitably set according to necessity but is preferably 80 to 100 percentby mole and more preferably 85 to 100 percent by mole, even morepreferably 90 to 100% by mole. If the saponification degree is less than80 percent by mole, the resulting molded article comprising the resincomposition may have decreased mechanical properties, especiallystrength and elastic modulus when left to stand at high humidity.

The amount of the vinyl alcohol polymer (B) to the polymer (A) in theresin composition is not specifically limited but is preferably 0.01 to50 parts by weight, more preferably 0.1 to 25 parts by weight, andfurther preferably 1 to 10 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight of thepolymer (A). If the amount of the vinyl alcohol polymer (B) exceeds 50parts by weight, the resin composition may show decreased oxygen barrierproperties at high humidity. If it is less than 0.01 part by weight, thevinyl alcohol polymer (B) may not sufficiently work to acceleratecrystallization and may invite some problems in molding and processing.

The resinous components can be kneaded according to any suitableprocedure. For example, the polymer (A) and the vinyl alcohol polymer(B) can be kneaded by typical melt blending method such as method usingcommon extruder such as laboplastmill, or by solution blending method ofdissolving the resins in a solvent, mixing the solution andreprecipitating the resin.

The resin composition has a high crystallization rate and contributes toshorten the time period of heat treatment in molding and processing ofthe resin composition.

The crystallization rate of the resin composition in terms of half timeof crystallization (t_(1/2)) determined at a temperature 10° C. lowerthan the melting point of the polymer (A) may be 2,000 seconds or less,more preferably 1,500 seconds or less, and further preferably 1,350seconds or less.

The half time of crystallization (t_(1/2)) is defined as the time periodto attain one half area of the exothermic peak measured with adifferential scanning calorimeter when the resin composition issubjected to isothermal crystallization at a temperature 10° C. lowerthan the melting point of the polymer (A), as described in the examplesbelow.

The resin composition of the present invention can be molded into asingle layer or multi layer article and can be used as a materialtypically for films, sheet and packages.

The resin composition shows excellent gas barrier properties when it ismolded typically into a film, sheet or package. The gas barrierproperties in terms of oxygen permeability at high humidity of 90%relative humidity are preferably 2 cc·20-μm/m²·day·atm or less, and morepreferably 1 cc·20-μm/m²·day·atm or less, as described in the examplesbelow.

EXAMPLES

The present invention will be illustrated in further detail withreference to several examples and comparative examples below, which arenot intended to limit the scope of the invention. The measurements inthe examples and comparative examples were determined according to thefollowing procedures.

(1) Measurement of Melting Point (Tm) of Polymer (A)

A differential scanning calorimeter (DSC-7, product of Perkin-Elmer Co.,Ltd.) was used. A sample was heated from 25° C. to 210° C. at a heatingrate of 80° C./minute and maintained for one minute at 210° C.Subsequently, the sample was cooled to 25° C. with a cooling rate of 10°C./minute. The sample was heated again from 25° C. to 210° C. at aheating rate of 80° C./minute. The value of the peak temperatureattributed to fusion was defined as the melting point (Tm) of thepolymer (A).

(2) Measurement of Crystallization Temperature (Tcc)of the ResinComposition

A differential scanning calorimeter (DSC-7, product of Perkin-Elmer Co.,Ltd.) was used. A sample was heated from 25° C. to 210° C. at a heatingrate of 80° C./minute and maintained for one minute at 210° C.Subsequently, the sample was cooled to 25° C. with a cooling rate of 10°C./minute. The peak temperature attributed to crystallization observedin the cooling procedure was defined as the crystallization temperature(Tcc) of the resin composition.

(3) Measurement of Half Time of Crystallization (t_(1/2)) of the ResinComposition

Using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC-7, product ofPerkin-Elmer Co., Ltd.), the half time of crystallization (t_(1/2)) ofthe resin composition was determined by an isothermal crystallizationmethod. A sample was heated from 25° C. to 210° C. at a heating rate of80° C./minute and maintained for one minute at 210° C. Subsequently, thesample was cooled to a temperature 10° C. lower than the melting pointof the polymer (A) determined in (1) with a cooling rate of 120°C./minute and was subjected to isothermal crystallization at the sametemperature. In this procedure, the time period from the beginning ofisothermal crystallization to the time when it attains one half area ofthe exothermic peak attributed to crystallization in the relationdiagram between the time and heat quantity was defined as the half timeof crystallization (t_(1/2)).

(4) Measurement of Oxygen Permeability

Using a press machine, NF-37 (product of Shinto Metal Industries Co.,Ltd.), a sample resin composition was pressed at a temperature of 190°C. and a pressure of 9.8 MPa for one minute to thereby yield ahot-pressed film about 200 μm thick. Using the hot-pressed film, theoxygen permeability was determined with an oxygen permeability measuringmachine, Model MOCONOX-TRAN 2/20 (product of MODERN CONTROLS INC.) at20° C. and 90% RH according to the method specified in ASTM D3985 (mostrecent version as of the filing date of this application) (equalpressure method). The oxygen permeability measured at an arbitrarythickness (unit: cc/m²·day·atm) was converted into and indicated as avalue in terms of a film with a thickness of 20 μm(cc·20-μm/m²·day·atm).

Referential Example 1 (a) Preparation of Poly(5-cyclooctene-1,2-diol)

In a 3-L separable flask equipped with a thermometer, dropping funnel,reflux tube and stirrer were placed 5-cyclooctene-1,2-diol (320 g, 2.25mol), 3-cis-hexen-1-ol (2.0 g, 0.02 mol) as a chain transfer agent andtetrahydrofuran (1280 g), and the resulting solution was held to 55° C.To the stirred solution was added dropwise a solution of1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene(tricyclohexylphosphine)benzylidenerutheniumdichloride (0.127 g, 0.15 mmol) as a ring-opening metathesispolymerization catalyst in tetrahydrofuran (5 mL). Thirty minutes later,a solution of ethyl vinyl ether (2 g, 0.028 mol) as a terminating agentin a mixture of methanol (500 g) and tetrahydrofuran (250 g) was added,followed by stirring at room temperature. The reaction mixture waspoured into hexane (20 L), the precipitate was separated and recoveredby filtration, and the solvent was distilled off under reduced pressureto yield 300 g of poly(5-cyclooctene-1,2-diol).

(b) Preparation of Hydrogenated Derivative ofPoly(5-cyclooctene-1,2-diol)

The above-prepared poly(5-cyclooctene-1,2-diol) (300 g) was dissolved ina mixture of tetrahydrofuran (1470 g) and methanol (1230 g), and theresulting solution was placed in a 5-liter autoclave made of Hastelloy-Cequipped with a pressure meter, safety valve, hydrogen inlet tube,thermometer, sampling tube and stirrer, followed by addition oftris(triphenylphosphine)rhodium chloride (7 g, 7.6 mmol). The inneratmosphere of the autoclave was then replaced with hydrogen gas threetimes, the inner temperature of the autoclave was elevated from roomtemperature to 60° C. over 30 minutes while stirring at a hydrogenpressure of 3.9 MPa and held to the same temperature for five hours.During this procedure, hydrogen gas was fed into the autoclave so as tohold the hydrogen pressure to 3.9 MPa. After cooling to roomtemperature, the reaction mixture was taken out from the autoclave andpoured into methanol (3 L). The solvent was distilled off from theprecipitated polymer under reduced pressure to yield a hydrogenatedderivative of poly(5-cyclooctene-1,2-diol) (290 g). The molecular weightof the hydrogenated derivative of poly (5-cyclooctene-1,2-diol) wasdetermined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC; developing solution:hexafluoroisopropanol, in terms of standard poly(methyl methacrylate))to find that it had a number-average molecular weight of 9,800 and aweight-average molecular weight of 26,800. The ¹H-NMR spectrum (DMSO-d₆solution, measurement temperature: 85° C.) at 500 MHz of the polymershows that the polymer has a hydrogenation degree of 99.9%. The meltingpoint (Tm) of the hydrogenated derivative ofpoly(5-cyclooctene-1,2-diol) was determined by the above procedure tofind to be 145° C.

Example 1

The hydrogenated derivative of poly(5-cyclooctene-1,2-diol) (99 parts byweight) prepared in Referential Example 1(b) and an ethylene-vinylalcohol copolymer (ethylene unit content: 38 percent by mole,saponification degree: 99.9%, viscosity-average polymerization degree:1,150) (1 part by weight) were melted and kneaded at 170° C. at 100 rpmfor 10 minutes using a Laboplast mill (product of Toyo SeikiSeisaku-sho, Ltd.) and thereby yielded a resin composition. Thecrystallization temperature (Tcc), half time of crystallization(t_(1/2)) and oxygen permeability of the resin composition weredetermined by the above procedures. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 2

A resin composition was prepared by the procedure of Example 1, exceptfor using an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (ethylene unit content: 38percent by mole, saponification degree: 99.9%, viscosity-averagepolymerization degree: 750) (1 part by weight) instead of theethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (ethylene unit content: 38 percent bymole, saponification degree: 99.9%, viscosity-average polymerizationdegree: 1,150) (1 part by weight). The crystallization temperature(Tcc), half time of crystallization (t_(1/2)) and oxygen permeability ofthe resin composition were determined by the above procedures. Theresults are shown in Table 1.

Example 3

A resin composition was prepared by the procedure of Example 1, exceptfor using an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (ethylene unit content: 47percent by mole, saponification degree: 99.9%, viscosity-averagepolymerization degree: 810) (1 part by weight) instead of theethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (ethylene unit content: 38 percent bymole, saponification degree: 99.9%, viscosity-average polymerizationdegree: 1,150) (1 part by weight). The crystallization temperature(Tcc), half time of crystallization (t_(1/2)) and oxygen permeability ofthe resin composition were determined by the above procedures. Theresults are shown in Table 1.

Example 4

The hydrogenated derivative of poly(5-cyclooctene-1,2-diol) prepared inReferential Example 1 (b) (99.9 parts by weight) and an ethylene-vinylalcohol copolymer (ethylene unit content: 38 percent by mole,saponification degree: 99.9%, viscosity-average polymerization degree:1,150) (0.1 part by weight) were melted and kneaded at 170° C. at 100rpm for 10 minutes using a Laboplast mill and thereby yielded a resincomposition. The crystallization temperature (Tcc), half time ofcrystallization (t_(1/2)) and oxygen permeability of the resincomposition were determined by the above procedures. The results areshown in Table 1.

Example 5

The hydrogenated derivative of poly(5-cyclooctene-1,2-diol) prepared inReferential Example 1(b) (90 parts by weight) and an ethylene-vinylalcohol copolymer (ethylene unit content: 38 percent by mole,saponification degree: 99.9%, viscosity-average polymerization degree:1,150) (10 parts by weight) were melted and kneaded at 170° C. at 100rpm for 10 minutes using a Laboplast mill and thereby yielded a resincomposition. The crystallization temperature (Tcc), half time ofcrystallization (t_(1/2)) and oxygen permeability of the resincomposition were determined by the above procedures. The results areshown in Table 1.

Example 6

A resin composition was prepared by the procedure of Example 5, exceptfor using an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (ethylene unit content: 27percent by mole, saponification degree: 99.9%, viscosity-averagepolymerization degree: 1,020) (10 parts by weight) instead of theethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (ethylene unit content: 38 percent bymole, saponification degree: 99.9%, viscosity-average polymerizationdegree: 1,150) (10 parts by weight). The crystallization temperature(Tcc), half time of crystallization (t_(1/2)) and oxygen permeability ofthe resin composition were determined by the above procedures. Theresults are shown in Table 1.

Comparative Example 1

The crystallization temperature (Tcc), half time of crystallization(t_(1/2)) and oxygen permeability of the hydrogenated derivative ofpoly(5-cyclooctene-1,2-diol) alone prepared in Referential Example 1 (b)were determined by the above procedures. The results are shown in Table1.

Comparative Example 2

The hydrogenated derivative of poly(5-cyclooctene-1,2-diol) prepared inReferential Example 1(b) (90 parts by weight) was dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide. Hydrous magnesium silicate (average-particle diameter: 3.2μm, specific surface area: 25 cm² μg) (10 parts by weight) was added tothe solution while stirring in Clearmix (Model CLM-0.8S; product ofTECHNIQUE) at 30° C. at 10,000 rpm for five minutes. Subsequently, thedispersion was subjected to reprecipitation and removal of dimethylsulfoxide using methanol. The resulting substance was dried at 50° C.under reduced pressure for 48 hours or longer and thereby yielded aresin composition. The crystallization temperature (Tcc), half time ofcrystallization (t_(1/2)) and oxygen permeability of the resincomposition were determined by the above procedures. The results areshown in Table 1.

Comparative Example 3

The hydrogenated derivative of poly(5-cyclooctene-1,2-diol) prepared inReferential Example 1 (b) (90 parts by weight) was mixed with silicondioxide (average-particle diameter: 4.1 μm, specific surface area: 300cm²/g) (10 parts by weight), and the mixture was melted and kneaded in aLaboplast mill at 170° C. at 100 rpm for 10 minutes and thereby yieldeda resin composition. The crystallization temperature (Tcc), half time ofcrystallization (t_(1/2)) and oxygen permeability of the resincomposition were determined by the above procedures. The results areshown in Table 1. TABLE 1 Oxygen permeability Amount Tcc (cc · 20- Vinylalcohol Polymer (B) (wt %) (° C.) t_(1/2) (sec) μm/m² · day · atm)Example 1 Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer 1 118 1180 <1 (ethylenecontent: 38% by mole) Example 2 Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer 1 1181160 <1 (ethylene content: 38% by mole) Example 3 Ethylene-vinyl alcoholcopolymer 1 113 1350 <1 (ethylene content: 47% by mole) Example 4Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer 0.1 119 1240 <1 (ethylene content: 38%by mole) Example 5 Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer 10 118 1050 <1(ethylene content: 38% by mole) Example 6 Ethylene-vinyl alcoholcopolymer 10 120 900 <1 (ethylene content: 27% by mole) Com. Ex. 1 NoneNone 99 >3000 3.1 Com. Ex. 2 Hydrous magnesium silicate 10 114 1360 5(particle diameter: 3.2 μm) Com. Ex. 3 Silicon dioxide 10 101 3750 4(particle diameter: 4.1 μm)

While the present invention has been described with reference to whatare presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims. The scope of the following claims is to beaccorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications and equivalent structures and functions.

1. A resin composition comprising: a polymer (A) mainly comprisingpolymerized structural units represented by Formula (1):

wherein m represents an integer of 2 to 10; X¹ and X² are each ahydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or a functional group that can beconverted into a hydroxyl group, wherein at least one of X¹ and X² is ahydroxyl group or a functional group that can be converted into ahydroxyl group; R¹, R² and R³ are each a hydrogen atom, a hydroxylgroup, a functional group that can be converted into hydroxyl group, analkyl group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group or a heteroaryl group,wherein the plural R¹s may be the same or different from each other; anda vinyl alcohol polymer (B).
 2. The resin composition according to claim1, wherein the polymer (A) comprises 50 mol % or more of polymerizedstructural units of formula (1).
 3. The resin composition according toclaim 1, wherein the resin composition has a half time ofcrystallization (t_(1/2)) of 2,000 seconds or less at a temperature 10°C. lower than the melting point of the polymer (A).
 4. The resincomposition according to claim 1, wherein the amount of the vinylalcohol polymer (B) in the resin composition is 0.01 to 50 parts byweight to 100 parts by weight of the polymer (A).
 5. A molded articlecomprising the resin composition of claim
 1. 6. The resin compositionaccording to claim 1, wherein the polymer (A) is obtained by a ringopening metathesis polymerization of a cyclic olefin.
 7. The resincomposition according to claim 1, wherein the polymer (A) is ahydrogenated product of a ring opening metathesis polymerization of acyclic olefin.
 8. The resin composition according to claim 1, whereinthe vinyl alcohol polymer (B) is present in an amount of from 10 wt. %or less based on the total weight of the resin composition.
 9. The resincomposition according to claim 1, wherein the vinyl alcohol polymer (B)is present in an amount of 1 wt. % or less based on the total weight ofthe resin composition.
 10. The resin composition according to claim 1,wherein the vinyl alcohol polymer (B) comprises polymerized ethyleneunits in an amount of 50% by mole or less.
 11. The resin compositionaccording to claim 1, wherein the vinyl alcohol polymer (B) comprisespolymerized ethylene units in an amount of 40% by mole or less.
 12. Theresin composition according to claim 1, having an oxygen permeability of1 cc·20-μm/m²·day·atm or less.
 13. The resin composition according toclaim 1, wherein the polymer (A) is a hydrogenatedpoly(5-cyclooctene-1,2-diol).
 14. The resin composition according toclaim 1, wherein the vinyl alcohol polymer (B) has a saponificationdegree of 99.5% or greater.
 15. A packaging film comprising the resincomposition according to claim
 1. 16. The resin composition according toclaim 1, wherein the polymer (A) consists of polymerized structuralunits of formula (1).
 17. The resin composition according to claim 1,wherein the resin composition has a half time of crystallization(t_(1/2)) of 1,350 seconds or less at a temperature 110° C. lower thanthe melting point of the polymer (A).
 18. The resin compositionaccording to claim 1, wherein each of X¹ and X² are a hydroxyl group ora functional group that can be converted into a hydroxyl group.